West Moon: A Play

by Al Pittman

West Moon is set in Newfoundland during the time of resettlement in the mid-1960s. Though the play explores some serious social, political, moral, and theological themes, it does so with a unique blend of pathos and humor. Though the characters are dead and subject to different degrees of despair, they come vigorously alive as we meet them, for a brief while, within the confines of their mortality. This is this first authorized publication of this work by one of Newfoundland's most highly regarded writers.

Genres: Canada, Plays

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Born in St. Leonard's, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Pittman grew up in Corner Brook. He moved to Montreal in 1964 where he began writing poetry and plays, and in 1966 published his first book of poems, The Elusive Resurrection. While in Montreal he was associated with Raymond Fraser and others in editing the literary magazine Intercourse: Contemporary Canadian Writing. From 1968 to 1970, Pittman was a student at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he befriended fellow poet Alden Nowlan. Pittman moved to St. John's in 1972, where he associated with many of the artists, writers, and musicians active in the city at the time, including Rufus Guinchard and Gerald Squires. In 1973 he co-founded Newfoundland's first publishing house, Breakwater Books, with Pat Byrne, Dick Buehler, Tom Dawe, and Clyde Rose. Pittman continued to write throughout his life, producing many other volumes of poetry, plays, books for children, short stories, songs, magazine articles, and essays, as well as writings for radio, television and film. He eventually returned to his childhood home of Corner Brook, where he co-founded the March Hare, an annual poetry and music festival.

Reviews

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a prospect for my grade seven class on the recommendation of another teacher. To my eyes, there are a couple of short passages that are a touch too sexually explicit for (most, or at least my) 7's, but definitely tucking this one in the back pocket for another day. Pittman's outport Newfoundland dialogue is wonderful, and this short play dabbles with profound questions of life, death, and theology while keeping the mood relatively light. A capable grade 9 class would probably be able to handle it well, and a high school class would delight in it.

3.5/5

[Summer Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for school and it was pretty bad. First I wanted to give it 1 star, but then I realized that the story was good. The story was well made and memorable but it was hard to read and boring at some parts. Not a lot to say about this novel. Overall, it wasn't that good <3